Pneumatic mattress, pillow, cushion, and upholstery.



H. l. WILLIAMS 6; E. L. BECHTEL.

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS, PILLOW, CUSHION, AND UPHOLSTERY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1915.

1 1 98,687; Patented Sept. 19, I916.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I. WILLIAIVIS, OF BARBERTON, AND ELZIE L. BEGHTEL, OF AKRON, OHIO.

PNEUMATIC MATTRESS, PILLOW, CUSHION, AND UPI-IOLSTERY.

' Application filed November 10, 1915.

To (all z/fi/zom 1'25 may concern Be it known that we, HENRY I. \VILLIAMS and ELZIE L. BncirrnL, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Barberton and Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Mattresses, Pillows, Cushions, and Upholstery, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to pneumatic mattresses, pillows, cushions, and upholstery, and has for its object the provision of a simple and inexpensive structure which may be readily inflated so as to support the user in comfort and yield to the position of the body and also to provide means whereby one section of a mattress may be repaired or renewed or removed without necessitating the provision of an entire mattress.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a construction which will permit an article of any desired size to be provided.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consists in certain novel features which will be first fully de scribed and then more particularly pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view partly broken away of a mattress embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a plurality of hollow sections 1 which are preferably rubber tubes of any desired configuration, the present drawings showing cylindrical tubes. The ends of the tubes are closed by caps 2 which may also be of rubber and which are sealed in the tubes so as to prevent leakage. One of the tubes is provided near one end with an inflating valve 3 which may be of any ordinary or preferred construction whereby air may be readily forced into the mattress and the valve closed so as to prevent loss of the air after the desired degree of inflation has been reached. Diametrically opposite the inflating valve 3, the mattress section or tube is fitted to a coupling 4 which connects the said section to an adjoining section. The said adjoining section is also connected to a third section in the same manner and as many sections or group of sections may be provided as are necessary to produce an article of the desired size. The coupling t Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 60,725.

constitutes means for establishing communication between the interiors of adjoining sections as well as the means for connecting the said sections. The coupling consists of a disk 5 having a nipple 6 projecting centrally from one face which is adapted to extend through suitable openings provided therefor in the mattress sections. Upon the said nipple between the disk 5 and the section containing the disk is fitted a washer or packing disk 7 which serves to prevent leakage around the nipple. A similar washer 8 is provided upon the nipple between the two mattress sections, and a third similar washer 9 is fitted upon the nipple within the section into which the nipple projects. A metallic washer or clamp plate 10 is fitted against the washer 9 and a thumb nut 11 is fitted upon the nipple so as to be turned home upon the metallic washer, as will be readily understood. When the thumb nut is turned home, the several washers and the walls of the sections will be compressed and firmly clamped together so that an air-tight junction between the adjoining sections will be effected.

It will be readily understood that the flexibility of the rubber forming the walls of the sections will permit the thumb nut to be manipulated before the article is inflated. A single inflating valve will suffice for the entire article and the air will fill the first section and then flow therefrom through the successive couplings into the succeeding sections, as will be readily understood. It will, of course, be understood that the inflating valve may be fitted to any section or each section or group of sections may be provided with an inflating valve. If any one section or tube should be punctured or should be worn through long continued use so as to leak, the article is deflated and the thumb nut or nuts securing the injured section will be released so as to permit the detachment of said section from the couplings and the removal of the same from the article. A new section can then be easily substituted without requiring the provision of an entire new article.

The several sections may be of such dimensions as to'be disposed transversely or longitudinally of the bed or other supporting frame, as may be preferred, and the ends of the several sections remote from the inflating valve may be free or connected, as may be desired. We prefer to have them disconnected and have so illustrated them in the drawings.

Our invention is exceedingly simple in the construction and arrangement of its parts and its many advantages are thought to be obvious.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. A structure for the purpose set forth comprising inflatable sections, a single inflating means common to all the sections, and couplings fitted in opposed sides of adjoining sections for connecting and establishing communication between the same.

2. A structure for the purpose set forth comprising a plurality of inflatable sections, an inflating valve fitted in one of said sections, and couplings fitted in adjoining sections to connect the same and establish communication therebetween, said couplings comprising a series of flexible Washers fitted between the said sections and against the inner Walls of the same, clamping disks fitted against the said Washers Within the sections, a nipple extending from one of said disks through the several Washers and through the connecting disk, and a thumb nut mounted upon said nipple and adapted to be turned home against a clamping disk.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signatures.

HENRY I. WILLIAMS. [L.s.] ELZIE L. BECHTEL. 1. 8.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

